althea photograpy FAQs image

Frequently Asked Questions

 
 
 

WHAT TO EXPECT


 

Take a deep breath!  Photoshoots can be stressful, especially with kids…but I guarantee you will love you photos so much more if you don’t sweat the small stuff and just let go and have fun during our shoot.  Sure, maybe your kid is throwing a tantrum or just being unusually wild, your dress has a hole in it or your husband is wondering when this will be over.  But if you stay in the moment, encourage your children or partner to just be themselves, that energy and joy will come through your photos.

If you feel you don’t have control of the other members of your family, good!  We want everyone’s unique personality to shine and at the end of the day, I want you to just see this time as an opportunity to enjoy each other.  Of course we want everyone to be safe, but don’t worry if someone has run off to play in the background!

A note about how I shoot:

I don’t do many photos of everyone staring at the camera.  This goes back to my goal of authenticity.  The second you tell a child to hold still and smile, there is often something natural lost.  This really goes for adults as well.  Cameras can be intimidating when they are pointed at you, additionally, stopping a fun moment to freeze and stare can often drain the spontaneity.

Within an hour I take anywhere from 700-1,000 photos.  Trust me, we are getting a lot of beautiful captures in there.  So, long story short - let’s have fun!

A note about photoshop:

I understand that we all have insecurities, and of course I want you to feel beautiful…but I also want you to feel beautiful in your natural body.  I am always keeping flattering light and angles in mind, and of course if you have a pimple or bruise that you’d like me to take care of - no problem. 

But please understand I will not shave off fifty pounds or contort your body into something that isn’t you.  I have tried this is the past when it was requested and I always walked away feeling yucky inside…and in most cases people were still not satisfied, which tells me there is likely more going on here.  Let’s celebrate natural beauty together and do the work to stop the popularity of over the top Instagram filters and the societal message that you need to change to be beautiful.

Lastly, you don’t need to bring anything extra to your shoot.  Maybe just snacks for the kids, an outfit change if we’ve decided on that together or a coordinating blanket for snuggling shots.  The less stuff the better, especially for outdoor shoots.  We are often walking into some terrain and extra bags can sometimes slow down the process of being in the moment.

I can’t wait to adventure with you and document your love!